Small plank cutting/ripping advice

[CNH]

Hello to all,

I am new to this forum and thought this would be a good place to get the best advice.

I have an issue cutting straight (very accurate straight) pieces on a bandsaw. Try as I might, (it is properly adjusted etc), it still drifts a little and doesn't give an accurate cut. (I have a Clarke bandsaw which may not be the best/most accurate – but a poor workman and all that!).

Would you recommend I upgrade the saw to something like the Scheppach bandsaw, or would a table saw suit me better?

Basically, I am trying to cut 6mm x 6mm pieces, approx 200mm long from white oak and beech.

Some of the table saws I have looked at, frankly, terrify me. The teeth on the blades look like they could take fingers/hands/arms off without blinking, particularly on such small work pieces.

I have checked out various sources, ebay etc but usually the best smaller kit (this is for model making purposes btw), is from the USA, and a) the wrong voltage, b) flippin expensive!

I am trying to avoid specific model-making tools as I don't believe they are as robust as they purport to be.

Any advice would be most gratefully received.

Best wishes
Chris

 

[Jacob]

Better band saw is one way but a good table saw is a much better option for precision.
Yes they are scary but you just need to take the usual precautions - TWO push sticks, riving knife and crown guard in place, fence set not too far forwards of the blade edge so that the pieces fall away and don't get thrown back. You might need a bit of a jig variation on push stick, to push the work piece right past the cutting edge - a bit of ply would do it, nothing complicated.

 

[RogerS]

Before you spend oodles on a table saw, go out and buy Steve Maskery's excellent DVD on how to set up a bandsaw. And get a decent blade for it from Ian at Tuffsaws,

 

[petermillard]

Doesn't somebody (Proxxon??) make a miniature table saw for model making?? Pretty sure I've seen it advertised in the UK; might be worth a Goolgle...

 

[JustBen]

The bandsaw isn't the main problem, its your blade. I have a cheap draper bandsaw which is more than likely the same or very similar to yours.
I was having the same problem so I got a Tuffsaw blade. The difference is incredible.

Previously my saw was struggling to cut any hardwood thicker than 1" and when it did, it was very wavy.

Now I have a Tuffsaw blade, it plows through 4" hardwood with not a single hesitation(4" is my max depth).
It's also very straight and just needs a light sand to get rid of saw marks.

With a finer blade and less speed it should come out a lot neater.

It's worth paying the £12ish for a Tuffsaw blade before spending £100s on a new bandsaw or tablesaw.

Just my thoughts.

Edit; I've had my blade for about 2 months and have cut through miles of hardwood and its still as sharp as day 1.

 

[CNH]

Guys, thanks for the replies, I appreciate your time.

I may take benjimano's advice and try a better bandsaw blade before I splash out on a table saw... benjimano – which blade do you recommend from SuperTuff, please?

Many thanks
Chris

 

[RogerS]

Guys, thanks for the replies, I appreciate your time.

I may take benjimano's advice and try a better bandsaw blade before I splash out on a table saw... benjimano – which blade do you recommend from SuperTuff, please?

Many thanks
Chris

Best thing you can do is speak to Ian at Tuffsaws, tell him what you're cutting etc and he will advise you

 

[JustBen]

I got the 1/2" supertuff premium 3tpi for mine but I mainly use it for ripping thick hardwood.
Maybe a 1/2" with a higher tpi would suit you.
A wider blade will give a straighter cut but won't cut tight curves.

It might be an idea to ring Ian at Tuffsaw and see what he recommends for your use.
By all accounts he is a bit of a bandsaw guru.

I can honestly say the blade I got is fantastic even though my bandsaw is powered by a mouse in a wheel.

 

[CNH]

Thanks benjimano, I will call him Monday.

Perhaps stronger cheese is in order for the mouse?

Cheers all for your help.

Chris

 

[Grahamshed]

Whilst being in total agreement with tuffsaw blades I really must object to the principal of useing a mouse in a wheel to run your bandsaw, this is very cruel.
You should at least use a hamster and give it a fighting chance.

 

[CNH]

All, I have purchased a bandsaw blade from Ian at TuffSaws – an absolute gentleman, very helpful and knowledgeable. He made (yes MADE) the blade I needed and posted it to me that day, I received it the following day, it is a work of art. Reasonably priced too.

I can thoroughly recommend TuffSaws – it is great that British industry still has people like this, something China cannot compete with.

I will be supporting TuffSaws from now on.

He also helped me set up my bandsaw.

10/10 in every way.

Cheers
Chris

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

+1...Ian's one of the good guys and no mistake